Sustainable dairying report: Live from the dairy farm

The launch of a report on sustainable dairying and water is marked today by a live stream of, among other things, a stream.

The video feed from DairyNZ actually features live scenes from a north Waikato farm from dawn to dusk today, filmed by four high-definition cameras.

At 2pm today the Sustainable Dairying-Water Accord report, a three-year progress update on the sector's efforts to protect water quality and the environment, will be formally launched at Te Papa in Wellington.

DairyNZ's Dairy Environment Leaders Group chairman Alister Body said most Kiwi didn't get the chance to see what a working dairy farm looks like. "So we thought we'd give people the opportunity to go 'down on the farm' using technology so that they can see things for themselves. It's based on a concept of 'Slow TV', which has become really popular across the world".

Mr Body said the dairy sector accepted it had to keep lifting its game to improve the quality of waterways.

The DairyLive static cameras will broadcast farming scenes, including pasture, a stream and mature riparian planting, and (hopefully) cows.

"That's supposing they don't get camera-shy," said Mr Body. "In any event, taking some time out to watch the grass grow is a nice way to start the day, as any dairy farmer will tell you."

See www.dairynz.co.nz/wateraccord for the live stream and for more details.